There is another side of this story. Look closely at the :32 mark on the video. Bikes aren't moving over as law requires and the one on the right pops a wheelie as he passes the cop. Nothing worse in my opinion than a large group of zoom splats showing their ashes. Idiots. JMHO!!!!

Tom

John F. Kennedy would be impeached by todays liberal Democratic socialist party.

Even if the motorcyclists were idiots it is not peoper procedure to hose a lane of traffic with pepper spray that would cause an idiot to crash potentially causing injury or death to an innocent party. Use of the patrol vegicle with lights to block the lane or an approach on the passenger side would be a less invasive way to perform the tradfic stop without use of a chemical agent that could cause injury to innocent parties. I dont appreciate idiots on bikes either but a police officer is supposed to diffuse a situation not escalate it.

Im sure its not proper procedure to release pepper spray onto motorists going 60mph. He is on desk duty pending an investigation into the incident. Wheelie popping or not it wasn't professional on his part. He ought to be disciplined.

I'm sure he knows he shouldn't have done it, no matter what kind of personal safety issue he wants to bring up. But he's got to say something!
He can't say "I was p#$$ed off and they wouldn't move over!" He would get fired.
Its got to be tough being a cop nowadays where any little error or lapse in judgement can not only end your career, but bring down a federal investigation on yourself and your department.
(Not making any comparisons here.)
This Officer screwed up. Fortunately no one was hurt. He won't do this again. Reprimand him (chew his butt out) and put him back on the street. (At least I think no one was hurt, video wouldn't load up in my Wal-Mart phone.)
If he uses his spray again, in an unjustified manner, he's history.

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain:

Another cop using the "feared for my life/safety" excuse. The next time I'm on the side of the road changing a tire, you think I could get away with pepper spraying passing traffic for my safety? This guy needs to gtfo of law enforcement before he kills someone because he "feared for his life/safety" which he could have easily done during this incident.

"Povero said he could not specify exactly what sanctions but added they could include retraining or a commander’s admonishment."

So he's still on the payroll, only he will be re-trained and receive a sit-down only i.e. =

admonishplay
verb ad·mon·ish \ad-ˈmä-nishPopularity: Top 1% of lookups
Simple Definition of admonish
: to speak to (someone) in a way that expresses disapproval or criticism
: to tell or urge (someone) to do something

SAD!

In the civilian world he wouldn't stand a chance, but in law enforcement they like to keep these guys around......How does the public benefit from all this?

We get psychos with badges that get to justify their behavior behind the guise of a badge.

This officer and his peers learn nothing from this other than it's okay.